Turgen-Aksu Gorge
The Natural Beauty of Turgen-Aksu
Gorges are those rare places in nature that have not been touched by the ubiquitous hand of man, which has not introduced its urban changes. But there is one gorge in the Issyk-Kul region, whose breath has been slightly touched by humans. However, it has not spoiled the creation of nature but has only slightly improved it. This is the Turgen gorge.
It is perhaps the only gorge in Kyrgyzstan that has a paved road. Not all of it, of course, but only about 20 kilometers. Usually, tourists reach the village of Novovoznesenovka by hitchhiking or by a regular bus from Karakol. From there, they set off on foot. Upon entering, everyone gets the impression that their journey into a fairy tale begins here. The entrance is narrow, like a gate to a mythical land.
After walking 10-12 km, you will reach the turnoff to the Kok-Kiya River. Here, the road becomes wider and more spacious, forming a corridor between rocky walls that stretch into the sky.
The forests in Turgen-Aksu amaze with their lushness and the richness of green cover. Even despite the desperate logging that occurred several years ago. But even the greedy hands of man could not spoil the pristine beauty.
Nature has managed to partially compensate for the losses. The river babbles among the spruces and junipers that grow right among the stones. The trees are watered naturally, as there is a lot of precipitation here. Therefore, the air in the gorge is always fresh and rich in oxygen. The path to the bridge passes unnoticed and quickly; tourists do not notice it while admiring the local beauties. Beyond the bridge is the hut of the road master. Most often, travelers stop here for the night. This is a brief rest before the difficult road, devoid of lush vegetation, harsh and stony. Only occasionally do grasses, primroses, and sunny violets appear at higher altitudes. But the higher the travelers ascend, the less vegetation there is. Everything ends in a stony embankment.
The road winds upward in five turns to the Chon-Ashu Pass. In general, the feature of the roads in Turgen is precisely these zigzag paths. However, you can descend along a gentle slope without sharp turns. Tourists descend straight to the Ottyk River. And to the left, you can climb along the Kichkine Berkut River to the pass of the same name.
Somehow, the Turgen-Aksu gorge seamlessly transitions into the Turgen Pass. From there, through wind-swept passes, you can reach the valley of the Arashan River. There are many small rivers here, and along them, cattle are usually driven to winter pastures. At the very top is a small mountain lake. Here, tourists stop for a little rest. After spending the night, the journey upward to the Aksu Glacier awaits. Crossing the pass is not difficult; ahead is a moraine lake, where the second day of the hike ends. They descend back along the Aksu River into the gorge. By the way, it is surprising that marals can still be found here. The Turgen-Aksu gorge is a beautiful and extraordinary place that attracts the attention of climbers from all regions of Central Asia.
Gorges
